SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - Jason 3 - SLC-4E Vandenberg - Jan 17, 2016 - DISCUSSION

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Forgive my ignorance, what sort of time period is needed to prepare the spacecraft for launch?

If the thruster issue was a one off then it sounds like the issue could be closed by late June?

[Eagandale4114]

At the very least it allows for SpaceX to work on getting their landing attempt approved.

[Kabloona]

At the vey least it allows for SpaceX to work on getting their landing attempt approved.

From the recent VAFB photos posted by Helodriver, it doesn't look like much progress has been made on the pad. It's still a field of graded dirt, much like it looked a month ago. At this rate, it looks like getting landing approval for Jason 3 might be putting the cart before the horse.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=35480.msg1381275#msg1381275

[Roy_H]

At the vey least it allows for SpaceX to work on getting their landing attempt approved.

From the recent VAFB photos posted by Helodriver, it doesn't look like much progress has been made on the pad. It's still a field of graded dirt, much like it looked a month ago. At this rate, it looks like getting landing approval for Jason 3 might be putting the cart before the horse.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=35480.msg1381275#msg1381275

I can't believe pouring the concrete for the pad is a big deal. Usually after grading, it is advisable to let the ground settle as long as possible (preferably if it rains) to compact itself, makes for a better foundation. I don't believe this is a limiting factor.

[cscott]

I agree.  I'll repeat my assertion that lack of progress on construction indicates lack of progress on approval, not the other way around.

[Okie_Steve]

One of my friends in High School worked for a road construction company. Being the new guy he was the one who got to drive the compactor around while everyone else took a break. "You can't ever compact the bed too much"

[Space Ghost 1962]

Forgive my ignorance, what sort of time period is needed to prepare the spacecraft for launch?

If the thruster issue was a one off then it sounds like the issue could be closed by late June?

The hanging issue is how it got contaminated.

The recycle for launch timing depends after that on working the list for LV/SC which may have many unrelated dependencies. When they have a reasonable plan for this, we'll get a NET.

Kim Keller will probably mention it eventually. I'd like to know myself, because I'd like to make it as I'm around Lompoc at the time, and I enjoyed the company Cassiope's SX junior engineers, got to share other stories with them. Great bunch to be with on first Vandy launch!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

tweeted about half an hour ago:

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/606161100451807234

@StephenClark1:
NASA: Launch delay for Jason 3 oceanography satellite on Falcon 9 rocket expected to be a couple of weeks.

Hopefully this is accurate. A couple of weeks shouldn't have much knock on effect to the rest of SpaceX's launch schedule.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Maybe this is me but do they have enough personnel to keep the rocket at Vandenberg and simply move into launch mode whenever the payload is ready whilst continuing the East Coast launches on their extant schedule?

[Space Ghost 1962]

Maybe this is me but do they have enough personnel to keep the rocket at Vandenberg and simply move into launch mode whenever the payload is ready whilst continuing the East Coast launches on their extant schedule?

Yes. Their model is to be able to move/rotate around. That's how they can afford so many launch sites. Very good model.

[ZachS09]

Is August 5 a good estimate for the new launch date?

[Kim Keller]

Is August 5 a good estimate for the new launch date?

No; there should be an official announcement in the next day or two, maybe even today.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

A couple of updates:

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/608223643802435584

Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes 4h4 hours ago

CNES: Jason-3 ocean-altimetry sat to board Antonov for June 18 arrival at Vandenberg AFB & late-July/early Aug SpaceX Falcon 9 launch.

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/608224542943809536

Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes 4h4 hours ago

CNES: Jason-3 thruster-contamination - salt in nozzle -- would have been OK for launch since salt disappears in presence of hydrazine.

Edit: brief article expanding on the above http://spacenews.com/unnecessary-timeout-pushes-jason-3-launch-to-july-or-august/

[Kabloona]

The delay may be helpful to SpaceX in recovery ops. The west coast ASDS has just arrived at Panama and is waiting to lock through. Depending on how long it has to wait, it could arrive in California in 3-4 weeks or so, probably early July.

The ASDS is carrying its wings on deck unattached, so the wings will have to be welded on in California. A late July/early August launch would give them 3-4 weeks to get the wings on and make final preparations for a barge landing attempt.

Update: the ASDS exited the canal yesterday, the 15th, so should arrive California in early July.

[Chris Bergin]

NOAA Satellites ‏@NOAASatellites  15m15 minutes ago
Jason-3 to launch no earlier than 8/8/15. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at Vandenberg AFB, CA on 6/18/15

[woods170]

Is August 5 a good estimate for the new launch date?

No; there should be an official announcement in the next day or two, maybe even today.

Well, it actually took a full twelve days. NET 8/8/2015 now.

[Kim Keller]

JASON-3 almost there....

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/CLX750

[Kim Keller]

Is August 5 a good estimate for the new launch date?

No; there should be an official announcement in the next day or two, maybe even today.

Well, it actually took a full twelve days. NET 8/8/2015 now.

Yep, took that long to get range approval.

[baldusi]

Is August 5 a good estimate for the new launch date?

No; there should be an official announcement in the next day or two, maybe even today.

Well, it actually took a full twelve days. NET 8/8/2015 now.

Yep, took that long to get range approval.

RTLS request had anything to do with it?

[sdsds]

JASON-3 almost there....

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/CLX750

Status: Landed 14 minutes ago